Day 171—Tuesday, June 29th, 2010The LibraryOkay, first off, I want to thank bar owner and sometime commentator, Kim, owner of Kim’s Place in Parkston, South Dakota for buying some of the 365 merchandise from the 365 Bars Store that "Boris" set up and maintains. And she not only purchased the items but sent in some photos of her modeling the merchandise as well, check it out below. “Boris’s” 365 logo never looked so good!

I asked Kim via email to describe her bar and here’s what she said:

My bar is not hard to find if you can find your way to Parkston, South Dakota. I'm dead center in the middle of town on Main Street. I have a group on Facebook and here it is: Kim’s Place facebook page. I have Happy Hour Mon-Fri from the opening to 7 pm, with drink specials and discounts. I don't have a grill but I do cook up a great Tombstone Pizza or will microwave you a delicious "Dakota Tom's" Sandwich. We have pool and darts along with the occasional Beer Pong or Tippy Cup games going on. Also Karaoke, DJ or even a live band from time to time. Touch Tunes music system where you can cue up just about anything your ears are aching to hear! The atmosphere is typical small town friendly with the "Cheers" attitude where everybody knows your name. If you’re a local and drink the same thing all the time, typically your beer/drink will be waiting by the time you get to the bar (because I'm that good)! If you are an out of towner be prepared as the locals are friendly (and nosey)! ;) Weeknights are mostly low key, but more often than not the most fun. Weekends are crazy and fun as Kim’s has the reputation for the best shots, speciality drinks (Kim's Koolaide, Long Island Iced Tea and Bloody Mary are notably the best in the area so I've been told) and the coldest beer in town.

Also would like to add as the Sturgis Motorcylce Rally is coming up in August that my bar is a favorite of bikers from as far as the Jersey Shore and Long Island. Bikers that get off the main interstates, and want a scenic ride thru South Dakota drive Hwy 44 which goes thru Parkston. I open early during these couple weeks just to cater to the bikers and for those that choose to spend the night in Parkston they've come back year after year.Thanks Kim, sounds like a top-notch tavern!

Okay and speaking of taverns, on to tonight’s bar. Tonight we’re going to a library, a library with not only books, but booze. The Library is a bar in the East Village that I thought I’d donate two of my books to the bar. Might as well let them collect dust there instead of in my apartment! Put on your thinking caps and let’s make tracks to The Library.

Here we are, this looks like my kind of library.

There's a couple seats at the bar, so let's check out a beer or four at The Library.

The background lighting is red and it turned bartender Linnea into a red portrait. I tried another take.

And this one came out red as well. What can I tell you, the Library is a red bar.

And to prove the point, the other bartender on duty (I forgot to write your name down, if you're reading this leave it in the comments section and I'll correct it) came up red as well!

There's a variety of themes going on here, from Halloween to Christmas to spinning globes.

Lots of beers available for your drinking pleasure.

Here's Marise who was seated next to me. She bartends uptown and I'll be stopping by her bar soon. Stay tuned!

My two books I'm donating to the library.

Linnea and Marise pose with the books.

Some of the other books available for check-out at The Library.

Here's Saucy, who was enjoying a little sauce at the bar.

There's candle lit tables in the back and a movie screen that plays B-movies and an occasional Kung Fu flick.

There's also booths. Here's Patrick and Alex enjoying a beer in the back of The Library.

Gumballs!

There's not only graffiti in the bathrooms, it starts on the doors in this joint.

Okay, time to get back to the bar.

Here's Thomas and Early at the bar enjoying beers.

And my books are officially installed onto a shelf at The Library. Huzzah! Goodnight, everybody!

ReviewThere’s no whispering in this library. In fact when the jukebox is cranking out Iggy Pop, Misfits and Dead Kennedy tunes, you’ll find yourself shouting out for your next can of Rolling Rock to the friendly bartender on duty. This library does have bookshelves lined with books (including mine!), but if you don’t feel like reading out of a book, there’s plenty of graffiti on the walls to peruse. The front of the bar houses a horseshoe bar and there’s candle lit tables in the back and booths as well. The back wall has a screen that plays B-list movies. Plastic skulls and Christmas tree lights adorn the walls and ceilings.

There’s a full bar available with bottled beers featuring: Heineken, Red Stripe, Stella and Newcastle. Budweiser, Blue Moon, Stella and Guinness are available on tap and if your wallet’s a little slim, Natural Light, Rolling Rock and Busch are available for just three bucks a can. There’s a daily Happy Hour that runs from 5pm to 8pm for with two-for-one drinks.

The only card you need at this library is your I.D. card, check it out.The Library7 Ave. A (near Houston)212-375-1352

Reader Comments (32)

When I worked in the bars in SF I used to get off work and grab my book bag and go sit somewhere in an alcove. and read...and yes i wore glasses.loud music, a book, and a writing tablet.typical nerd with weird musical taste.

Hey Marty, I know you gave up on finding a classic grungy dive bar bathroom a while back but this looks like a place you could find one. I wonder what were the bathrooms like? And yes I want to know about the women's too!

Also, I would expect there to be a good amount of Bukowski on the shelves. Did you find any?

@TheChief: I didn't go in to the bathrooms, but next time I'm in the area, I'll check them out for you. And yes, there's Bukowski and now, Wombacher as well! Looking forward to your next Peoria bar entry!

Thanks Meleah & Jaws for the compliment...Marty's 365 attire works well on me! :") Thanks Marty for adding me to the crawl! Since getting you to come all the way to South Dakota for the bar crawl was pretty unlikely I'm glad this will work as the next best thing. I live vicariously thru your bar crawl as I don't get out of "my" bar much. It's like my own little virtual vacation. Be warned tho...my oldest daughter is in the process of moving to VA as we speak so keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be making a trip to the East Coast and joining up with you on the bar crawl for a day or two before the final 194 days is over. For everyone else...if you are ever passing thru Southeast South Dakota...stop in and say Hello!

Forgot to mention - I dig this place! Christmas lights, skulls, cool hangy paper lighty things...who could ask for anything more? Plus, I like the fact that the vintage cash register is being guarded by the one and only Jesus Christ. Or maybe it's Jim Morrison? Either way, I wouldn't fuck with the moulah. If J.C.: For fear that I've been wrong all these years and sins actually do get punished; and if J.M.: For fear that he would punish me by reading his poetry to me over and over again.

Fuck the Dewey Decimal System!I'd rather have the "Dewey Decibel System!"MY kind of Library!Cool place (and Kim's too)The decor in the Library reminds me of how I decorated my old apartmentof years ago... I used to say it was decorated in "Early Halloween".Thanks to Kim for being the first "non employee" to model some merch!So far we had me, Marty and now Kim in SD!It warms my heart.Stay tuned for a few more items/colors around the half way mark of the crawl!Great post today.Thanks again Kim.You wear it well."Boris"

Wow TO: KIM !!! Yes 365 Looks Great on You , & your bar sound Fantastic , ZioumZioum would Love to try karaoke & I bet you got some Lynyrd Skynyrd ( which I asked her how to spell & thought she spelled it wrong , what do I know about young french woman ) which she would Love to sing .

The Library looks like a Great place , where you can put your tag up & not get in trouble , just noticed !!Also you cam make noise & no one will say " SHHHHH "

A Gumball machine !!!And now My Gumball story , you should not read this if you don't like disgusting stories !!!When I was a Kid , I was always one of the first kids in my neighborhood to be outside playing in the morning , since I always woke up early , the second kid would be Kevin , which was one of my best friends . One morning Kevin & I where hanging out waiting for other kids to come out so we could do something , like play kick the can , or what ever , but there was no one around . So Kevin had an idea , he asked me for a nickel ( since he never had any money ) & said lets go to the supermarket , so I said OK . We get there & he go's to the nickel gumball machine & gets a gumball , but to my surprise he doesn't chew it, he stuck it down his pants & wiped his ass on it , & that's when i said , WHAT THE FUCK YOUR DOING !!!, he laughed & said watch , so he took it & placed it back into the gumball machine where the little trap door is & placed it there which the trap door held it , & you didn't even know that there is a hidden gumball waiting . He said now lets just wait , OK .Then a kid came out of the supermarket & ran to the gumball machine & put his nickel & turn the knob , & open the trap door to see he got 2 gumballs for a nickel & screamed out with joy " I Got Two , I Got Two !! " , So now ever time I get something by accident in two's I Think , am I lucky ?

I like the LIbrary, dark, red lights, loud music,,,and my fellow Miamian Iggy. But again,, to be fair,, the graffiti is a bit much for me. I understant what LIbrary is going after, but when one thing overwhelms the whole place,,,then it becomes that. I always try to say what I feel but I know its not necessarily hip,,,but thats me.